Manual launcher with remotely situated control

• US 10,088,282 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2015
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laporte Holding
• Original Assignee: Laporte Holding
• Inventors: Laporte, Jean-Michel, Fouques, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Ricci, John
• Application Number:
  US15/537,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/407 with spring-loaded propelling means
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 3/03 Catapults having a pivotable launcher arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/18 Traps or throwing-apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/22 cocked by manual action

Abstract

The invention has for object a mechanical target-launching machine comprising a loading system 1 and an actuator 3 which are disjointed from one another. The actuator 3 and the loading system 1 are connected to one another by a power transmission device 2. Said power transmission device 2 is a flexible element and preferably an arming cable 21. An energy accumulator 6 allows energy to be stored so that it can be released abruptly and allow the launching of a target 29.

Claims

1. A target-launching machine comprising:

a projection element for projecting a target mounted mobile on a frame,

an arming device of the projection element, said arming device comprising;

a first portion including an actuator, with the actuator configured to receive an input energy from a user,

a loading system of an energy accumulator configured to store the input energy in the energy accumulator,

a second portion including an output member mounted on the frame, with the output member being configured to drive the projection element, said projection element being mobile via the output member through a release of a quantity of energy accumulated in the energy accumulator,

a connection between the first portion and the second portion by a power transmission device, wherein the power transmission device comprises at least one flexible element between the actuator and the loading system, and wherein the power transmission device further comprises a rigid connecting element fixed, at a first end thereof, on a base of the actuator and, at a second end thereof, to the frame, wherein the rigid connecting element comprises a sleeve defining an interior passage wherein the flexible element extends, wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of tubular sections connected two-by-two in a removable manner,

wherein the actuator is mobile according to an arming cycle comprising a movement of the actuator from a rest position generated by a force from the user that procures input energy and a movement of the actuator to the rest position during a releasing of a force from the user and in that the loading system is configured to store in the energy accumulator produced by an energy of a plurality of arming cycles,

wherein the second portion comprises the loading system and the energy accumulator, said actuator and said loading system being connected by the power transmission device,

wherein the loading system comprises an arming pulley actuated in rotation by the power transmission device in opposition to a return spring of an arming pulley in a rest position, and

wherein the arming pulley is configured to actuate in rotation in a first direction a gear wheel by an arming claw.

2. The target-launching machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion is not supported by the frame.

3. The target-launching machine as claimed claim 1, wherein the power transmission device comprises at least one arming guiding pulley of the flexible element.

4. The target-launching machine as claimed claim 3, wherein the arming guiding pulley is mounted in rotation on the frame.

5. The target-launching machine as claimed claim 1, wherein a portion of the flexible element engages a groove of the arming pulley, with an end of the flexible element being fastened to the arming pulley.

6. The target-launching machine according to claim 5, wherein the energy accumulator comprises a torsion spring, with a gear wheel being configured to drive, during its rotation in a first direction, a main axis connected to an end of the torsion spring.

7. The target-launching machine according to claim 1, wherein the loading system comprises a retaining claw that has a default position of contact with the gear wheel that prevents a rotation of the gear wheel in a second direction opposite the first direction.

8. The target-launching machine according to claim 7, comprising a triggering pulley configured to raise the retaining claw and the arming claw in a release position of the gear wheel.

9. The target-launching machine according claim 1, wherein the gear wheel comprises an angular sector devoid of teeth.

10. The target-launching machine according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a pedal configured to receive the force of the user.

11. A method for using a target-launching machine according claim 1, with the method comprising the following arming steps:

a. activation of an actuator by the input energy coming from a user; and

b. transmission of the input energy to a loading system into the energy accumulator;

wherein an energy required to proceed with launching at least one target is accumulated by a plurality of arming cycles, with each arming cycle comprising a movement of the actuator from a rest position generated by an effort of the user procuring the input energy and a movement of the actuator to the rest position during a releasing of the effort from the user,

wherein an arming cycle comprises at least the following steps;

a. compressing at least one pedal on the actuator,

b. driving at least one arming cable and one arming guiding pulley,

c. rotating an arming pulley,

d. simultaneous rotation of a gear wheel driven via an arming claw fixed to the arming pulley,

e. simultaneous rotation of the gear wheel and of a main axis,

f. accumulating energy in the energy accumulator during the rotation of the main axis,

g. returning the arming pulley into an original position thanks to a return spring of the arming pulley, and

h. conserving energy by the action of a retaining claw by immobilizing in rotation the gear wheel.

12. A method for using a target-launching machine according claim 1, with the method comprising the following arming steps:

a. activation of an actuator by the input energy coming from a user; and

b. transmission of the input energy to a loading system into the energy accumulator;

wherein an energy required to proceed with launching at least one target is accumulated by a plurality of arming cycles, with each arming cycle comprising a movement of the actuator from a rest position generated by an effort of the user procuring the input energy and a movement of the actuator to the rest position during a releasing of the effort from the user, the method comprising the following triggering steps;

a. compressing at least one trigger pedal,

b. driving at least one triggering cable and a triggering guiding pulley,

c. rotating a triggering pulley,

d. separating an arming claw and a retaining claw by pressure of triggering abutments fixed on the triggering pulley,

e. releasing of energy stored in the energy accumulator, and

f. returning the triggering pulley into an original position thanks to a return spring of the triggering pulley.